Providence Saint Joseph is Kay's Community Hospital

October 23, 2013

When you need to count on a hospital not only once, but several times, compassionate care makes all the difference in your experience.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Kay Baldwin looked to Providence Saint Joseph for a delicate surgery that was unheard of two decades ago. The procedure, known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), helps control tremors by stimulating certain areas of the brain with mild electrical signals.

Kay went through this advanced neurological surgery twice and, each time, spent a day in the intensive care unit (ICU) as part of his post-operative treatment. “The ICU is not a fun place to be,” says Kay. “But if you need to be there, Saint Joseph is definitely the place to be.”

While the road to recovery was difficult both physically and emotionally, both DBS procedures were a success. Kay is especially grateful to the dedicated physicians and ICU staff for making him and his family feel safe, reassured, and cared for at every turn.

One nurse in particular stood out, going the extra mile and easing the family’s worries with her gentle sense of humor. “(The nurse) helped us deal with stress with laughter,” says Brenda, Kay’s daughter. “That’s our family – she fit right in with us.”

His experience with Providence Saint Joseph doesn’t end there. Kay defeated colon cancer in 2003, and two years later, he had a pacemaker implanted to regulate his heartbeat.

Through it all, Kay’s affection for Providence Saint Joseph has not wavered. Having lived in Burbank since 1963, Providence Saint Joseph has been his community hospital for many years.

Even during the hardest of times – Kay’s beloved wife, Mary Lou, tragically passed away in 2004 – Saint Joseph has been there for the Baldwins, and the attentive support staff have made all the difference.

As the hospital’s 24-hour caregivers, nurses have a special place in the hearts of the Baldwin family. To honor the profession and help the next generation of nurses succeed, Kay created the Kay and Mary Lou Baldwin Nursing Endowment. The endowment also supports nursing recruitment, education, and retention, as well as a commitment to excellence that is a hallmark of care at Providence Saint Joseph.

Every day, nurses, physicians, and other caregivers are striving to do all they can for their patients. Their work enhances the lives of patients and their families, and builds a sense of goodwill that extends beyond the hospital and into the community as a whole—a sense that we are all in this together.

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About Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services, Southern California, provides the South Bay, Westside and San Fernando Valley a full spectrum of care that includes leading-edge diagnostics and treatment, outpatient health centers, the well-regarded Providence Medical Institute, numerous outreach programs and clinics, hospice and home care and Providence High School, a Blue Ribbon college-preparatory campus. Learn More >